Tinnitus

[unhappycamper]

I had my first hearing test at the VA on Friday. I've had tinnitus for the last 35 years or so.

Unlike the Optical department, the Hearing guys do not have new equipment. After about an hour of (attempting) to hear sounds the technician said I do have hearing loss. I told the lady about my experiences at the Chu Lai airbase and the four months of being stationed with a battery of 8 inch howitzers on top of a 20 meter hill. I also mentioned the VA should have a number of vets with hearing problems from the airbase BOOM. Tet, the gift that keeps on giving.

There's sending my paperwork off to the guys who determine if I get hearing aids, compensation, whateveh. I should hear back from them within a month. I'll let you know what they say.

[think]

1. Wishing you the best in getting some relief.

Thank you for posting many excellent articles. I deeply appreciate the resources you provide.

[madaboutharry]

2. Good luck to you, unhappycamper.

[marble falls]

3. In the Navy in submarine school, you get the pressure tests before you get your "base"....

hearing tests from which they measure future hearing loss. In the first pressure test one of the guys in the tank with me ruptured both eardrums and was bleeding from both ears. I had tinnitus prior to the Navy, but it got much worse while I was in.

[sorefeet]

4. 24/7 very loud high pitched ringing

zero relief. Sandblaster in a confined space with big air pressure makes off the chart noise. Of course I am denied any treatment from workers comp or VA or anyone else because, PROVE IT HAPPENED HERE. Good luck unhappy camper, I would give my left nut for some hearing aids.

[white cloud]

5. Good luck

and the best on compensation.

[newfie11]

6. My husband is extremely hard of hearing

He was a navy corpsman with the marines and his hearing loss was caused by the same scenario as yours.
This combined with diabetes from agent orange has him rated 100% VA disabled.
He has had good luck with the VA and on his second set of hearing aids.
These are very expensive hearing aides but free to him.
Hang in there, maybe you will have a more knowledgeable person on your next trip in.

[PDittie]

7. Yeah, Meneire's here

and my diabetes meds have occasionally made it worse, as in vertigo and vomiting and all that.

I don't qualify as disabled according to SS because some days are better than others.

[mountain grammy]

8. My husband spent 3 years on Army helicopters

one of them in 'Nam as a Crew Chief. He's always been half deaf and I've encouraged him to go to the VA.
He just yells "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" and goes on.
Good luck to you and keep us posted. Maybe I can get him to go in for that check up.

[unhappycamper]

9. You might want to mention a tinnitus diagnosis is good for at least 10% disability compensation.

Try that one.

[mountain grammy]

15. Thanks. I'll yell it into his "good" ear.

[Bibliovore]

10. I'm glad you got tested and are getting help

One additional suggestion: If you're at all interested, take some sign-language classes, with any friends and family who'd like to join you.

ASL is a neat language, fun and relatively easy to learn, and if you later wind up losing further hearing (something like 85% of people do as they age) you'll be very glad to have already learned it. If my grandmother had done so before she became hearing impaired in her late 80s, it would have been easier to talk with her.

(Needless to say, it's also generally great to be able to talk with Deaf people. Knowing ASL is useful in other circumstances, too, such as for talking in noisy spaces, across crowded rooms, or anywhere you need to be quiet.)

[alfredo]

12. Your friends and family need to know to

face you when they speak, and to wait until they are in the same room with you.

They also need to understand that hearing aids don't help you understand what they are saying, only to hear their voices.

If the aids itch or tickle, put some hydrocortisone cream on a Q Tip and lightly coat the canal. Let it dry before inserting the aid.

At first everything sounds tinny. You'll get used to it.

[alfredo]

11. Find buddies who were with you there that has

Hearing loss. Have them write about their experience and hearing loss.

I was morse intercept for three years, I have bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss. I receive 10% compensation for the tinnitus. That comes out to around $131 per month. I now have hearing aids. the aids, batteries, and parts are free for the rest of my life.

Good documentation is important, so is patience, persistence, and a friendly and helpful demeanor.

[NV Whino]

13. This won't help you at the VA, but

Costco has the best price on digital hearing aids. If you can't get help at the VA, check them out.

[Sweet Freedom]

14. I hope yours are covered!

I just took my mom for a fitting, but we walked away empty handed after hearing the price. They are $3k each and insurance doesn't cover any of the cost. Even with an AARP discount, they were still too expensive.

Good luck! I hope you get them soon.

[pinboy3niner]

16. Have you filed a disability claim for it?

The clinic will do diagnosis and treatment but I don't think you'll get a compensation decision that way. The veteran must submit a claim, and the best way to do that is to use a claims rep from one of the vet service orgs like DAV or VFW.

I hope the clinic will be able to help with improving your hearing. That's the main thing and probably more valuable to you than any disabiity compensation you might be awarded.

[unhappycamper]

17. Is a frog waterproof?

After signing up at he VA (in November), the VA sent me to the DAV to file a claim.

I'm interested in getting my hearing back; I miss music in a big way.

[unhappycamper]

18. 6.3.2014 Tinnitus UPDATE

I received snail mail yesterday from the VA informing me I've been awarded a 10% disability for my hearing loss.



10% disability is nice, but I just wanted hearing aid(s). To date I have NO complaints about the VA and I fully expect some 21st Century hearing thingies.

:fingerscrossed: